Mixing apparatus for fluent materials

ABSTRACT

APPARATUS FOR MIXING FLUENT MATERIALS SUCH AS LIVESTOCK FEED, COMPRISING A MIXING TANK PREFERABLY MOUNTED ON A MOBILE SELF-PROPELLED VEHICLE FRAME AND HAVING THEREIN THREE PARALLEL GENERALLY HORIZONTAL AUGER CONVEYORS AND A GENERALLY VERTICAL AUGER CONVEYOR. TWO OF THE HORIZONTAL CONVEYORS ARE DISPOSED ADJACENT TO EACH OTHER IN THE LOWER PORTION OF THE TANK, ADJACENT TO AND TO ONE SIDE OF THE LOWER END OF THE VERTICAL CONVEYOR, AND HAVE THEIR FLIGHTS DISPOSED IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS TO AGITATE THE MATERIAL, WHILE THE THIRD HORIZONTAL CONVEYOR IS DISPOSED ADJACENT TO THE VERTICAL CONVEYOR ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE THEREOF. THE VERTICAL AUGER CONVEYOR HAS ITS SPIRAL FLIGHTS INCREASING IN DIAMETER FROM THE BOTTOM TO THE TOP THEREOF. FEEDING OF MATERIAL TO THE MIXING TANK IS ACCOMPLISHED BY AN EXTENSIBLE BELT CONVEYOR EXTENDING FORWARDLY OF THE TANK AND TERMINATING ADJACENT THE FORWARD END OF THE VEHICLE FRAME.

[ 1 MIXING APPARATUS FORFLUENT MATERIALS [75] Inventors: John L. Kugle, Lancaster; Robert C.

Futty, Willow Street, both of Pa.

[73] Assignee: IRL Daffin Associates, Incorporated,

Lancaster, Pa.

22 Filed: Nov. 2, 1971 21 App]. No.: 194,874

[52] US. Cl 259/6, 259/D1G. 31, 259/97 [51] Int. Cl B01f7/08 [58] Field of Search 259/5, 6, 97, 4, 21, 19, 259/40, 41; 99/235 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,133,727 5/1964 Luscombe 259/97 3,316,830 5/1967 Biehl 259/235 3,021,121 2/1962 MOSS 259/97 [111 3,804,377 [451 Apr. 16,1974

Primary Examiner-Robert W. Jenkins Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Holman & Stern [57] ABSTRACT Apparatus for mixing fluent materials such as livestock feed, comprising a mixing tank preferably mounted on a mobile self-propelled vehicle frame and having therein three parallel generally horizontal auger conveyors and a generally vertical auger conveyor. Two of the horizontal conveyors are disposed adjacent to each other in the lower portion of the tank, adjacent to and to one side of the lower end of the vertical conveyor, and have their flights disposed in opposite directions to agitate the material, while the third horizontal conveyor is disposed adjacent to the vertical conveyor on the opposite side thereof. The vertical auger conveyor has its spiral flights increasing in diameter from the bottom to the top thereof. Feeding of material to the mixing tank is accomplished by an extensible belt conveyor extending forwardly of the tank and terminating adjacent the forward end of the vehicle frame.

14 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures 1 MIXING APPARATUS FOR FLUENT MATERIALS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to a mixing apparatus, and more particularly to a mobile apparatus for mixing fluent materials such as livestock feed.

Mobile mixing apparatus is known for mixing fluent materials such as livestock feeds in the form of grains, such apparatus frequently comprising mixing tank having various types of mixing means therein, mounted upon a mobile frame which is either self-propelled or which is towed behind a truck or other self-propelled vehicle. Such known mixing apparatus has not been entirely successful in'achieving a thorough and substantially uniform mixing of the feed or other fluent material, due to the particular types of agitating means which are utilized in the mixing tank. t

Further, particularly in mobile operations, when transporting the apparatus, there has existed the danger of collision with other vehicles or with fixed objects due to the arrangement of feeding means to such mixing tank on theknown apparatus. In particular, a common arrangement has been to provide the mixing tank on a primary vehicle frame, which may be selfpropelled, and towing a feeding conveyor as a secondary vehicle behind such primary vehicle. Alternatively, the feeding conveyor and mixing tank have been provided as part of a single mobile vehicle frame, the feeding conveyor, again in this case extending rearwardly from the apparatus and feeding from the rear into the mixing tank. Clearly, there has existed a collision danger, primarily in the case of vehicles approaching from therear, due to the customary large degree of overhang of the feeding conveyor, particularly when the same is being towed as a secondary vehicle. Further, when such feeding conveyor is located rearwardly of the mixing tank, the operator of the vehicle must thus back the vehicle into its position of intended use, thus facing considerable problems of rearward visibility and raising the probability of collision with another vehicle or a fixed object in such backing movement.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide new and improved mixing apparatus for fluent materials, such as livestock feeds, which overcomes the above-mentioned drawbacks of the known prior devices of this type.

Specifically, is an object of the present invention to provide such a mixing apparatus which is characterized by markedly improved mixing of the fluent material, .and which. insures a more consistently uniform mixture of the materials.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a mixing apparatus of the general character described, further including means for adding a liquid component to the materials, such as molasses and/or liquid protein to supplement the livestock feed.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a mixing apparatus of the character described, which includes vastlysimplified heating means for the liquid component, in the event that the liquid comprises molasses or a similar highly viscous material.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide such a mixing apparatus which is mounted upon a mobile. frame, for ease of transportation, and which is, characterized by a higher degree of safety in such transporting operations as compared with prior known devices.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide such an apparatus mounted on a mobile frame in which the danger of rear-end collisions is substantially eliminated.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide such a mobile mixing apparatus in which rear overhang of the apparatus, relative to the mobile vehicle frame, is substantially eliminated.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide such a mobile mixing apparatus which can preferably be driven forwardly into its position of intended use, thus eliminating the dangers of backing movement and resultant loss of visibility.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The above objects, as well as others which will be come apparent as the description proceeds, are fulfilled by the present inventive mixing apparatus characterized by a mixing tank preferably mounted on a mobile self-propelled vehicle frame and having therein three parallel generally horizontal auger conveyors disposed in the lower portion of the tank. Two of the horizontal conveyors are disposed adjacent to each other and have their flights disposed in opposite directions to agitate the material. A further auger conveyor extends generally vertically upwardly from the aforementioned two auger conveyors at one side thereof, and has spiral flights which increase in diameter from the bottom of the top thereof. The third of the horizontal conveyors is disposed on the opposite side of the vertical auger conveyor. Feeding of material to the mixing tank is accomplished by an extendable belt conveyor extending forwardly and terminating adjacent the forward end of the vehicle frame, and which may be extended or retracted in the longitudinal direction of the belt. Feeding means may be included for supplying a liquid component, such as molasses and/or liquid pro-' tein, to the mixing tank, and in the case of molasses, such supply tank may be heated by hot water from the engine water system of the vehicle, to reduce the viscosity of the molasses and improve control over the flow thereof to the mixing tank.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention itself will be better'understood, and additional objects, features and advantages thereof will become apparent, from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the inventive apparatus, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is aside elevational view of a preferred form of the inventive apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of a portion of FIG. 1, showing operation of the extendible feeding conveyor;

FIG. 3 is a top plane view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a rear elevational view of the apparatus of FIG. 1; v

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the mixing tank, taken along lines V--V of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 6 is a transverse sectional view of the mixing tank, taken along Vl-VI of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the present invention, which includes a mobile vehicle frame F, which may advantageously form a part of a self-propelled vehicle such as a truck having a conventional cab C at its forward end. Mounted on the rearward portion of the vehicle frame F, is a mixing tank MT, having in its interior mixing and conveying means, to be described in detail at a later point, which thoroughly mix the fluent contents of the mixing tank.

An elongated feeding conveyor means FT is mounted on the vehicle frame to one side of the forward portion of the mixing tank MT, and extends forwardly and terminates at its forward end, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, substantially at the forward end of the cab C, i.e., of the vehicle frame F. This feeding conveyor FT receives the fluent material from any suitable source and feeds it rearwardly, through a hammer mill I-IM, which is located immediately forward of the mixing tank MT and which further comminutes the fluent material, into the mixing tank MT through 'a feed conduit FC, such feed conduit FC having its forward end disposed underneath and in communication with the interior of the hammer mill HM, and its rearward end extending into the interior of the mixing tank MT. Preferably, as shown, a magnetic separator unit MS is provided at generally the rearward end of the hammer mill HM, in order to separate out any metallic fragments or other metallic components of the feed before it is sent to the mixing tank MT.

Also mounted on the mobile vehicle frame F are a diesel or other internal combustion engine E, for supplying power to the agitators within the mixing tank MT and to the hammer mill HM; a first supply tank 10, for a first liquid component to be added to the fluent material in the mixing tank, such as molasses; and a second supply tank 12 for adding a second liquid additive, either in addition to or in lieu of the first liquid, to the material in the mixing tank MT, such second liquid additive, for example, comprising a liquid protein. Thus, it will be seen that the entire apparatus represents essentially a single mobile, self-propelled vehicle which may be readily transported to any desired site for use.

Referring now to FIGS. and 6, the interior of the mixing tank MT is illustrated, and the mixing, agitating and conveying means disposed therein will be described in greater detail. As shown, the mixing tank MT includes a pair of longitudinally spaced upright end wall members 14 and 16, a pair of transversely spaced, downwardly and inwardly inclined side wall portions 18 and 20, and a top wall portion 22. Preferably, as shown, the side wall portions 18 and 20 merge at their respective ends in a smooth rounded bottom portion 24, thus lending to the mixing tank an essentially semi-ovate cross-section.

Mounted longitudinally within the lower portion of the mixing tank MT are three elongated rotatable auger conveyor means which serve to thoroughly mix the fluent material by agitating the same, and which comprise a first generally horizontal auger conveyor means having a longitudinal shaft 26, and a plurality of spiral flights of blades 28 mounted on the shaft 26.

As will be seen from FIG. 5, the shaft 26 of the first auger conveyor means extends the entire length of the mixing tank MT and additionally protrudes into the feeding conduit FC, to thereby feed the material from the hammer mill HM into the interior of the mixing tank MT. The first auger conveyor means defined by shaft 26 and spiral flights of blades 28 is mounted immediately adjacent the bottom of the mixing tank, and preferably with a close clearance between the spiral flights 28 and the rounded bottom portion 24 of the mixing tank, in order to thoroughly mix the fluent material at the bottom of the tank.

Mounted parallel and adjacent to the first auger conveyor means, and disposed somewhat above and to one side thereof, is a second generally horizontal rotatable auger conveyor means defined by a longitudinal shaft 30 and a plurality of flights of spiral blades 32 mounted thereon. Preferably, as illustrated, the spiral flights of blades 28 of the first auger conveyor means, at the opposite end portions thereof, are inclined in opposite directions to each other, in order to feed the fluent material towards the center portion of the auger conveyor means, i.e., of the mixing tank, and the spiral flights of blades 32 on the second and third auger conveyor means are likewise preferably inclined in opposite directions to either side of the center thereof. Further, the spiral flights of blades 32 on the second and third auger conveyor means are preferably inclined in the direction opposite to those of the adjacent portion of the first auger conveyor means, in order to effect a counter-flow of the fluent material towards the ends of the tank and thus effect a more effective mixing of the material.

While the first auger conveyor means may have its spiral flights of blades 28 extending the entire length thereof, preferably such spiral flights 28 are disposed only at generally the end portions thereof, and there are provided in the central portion thereof individual inclined blade members 34, which are inclined axially in the same direction as the continuous spiral flights 28. The use of such individual blade members 34 further improves the mixing action upon the fluent material, by effecting a more thorough agitation than would be possible through the use of auger blades alone. It should also be noted that the spiral flights of blades 32 on the second and third auger conveyor means extend axially for essentially the same length along the shaft 30 thereof, in the central portion of the mixing tank, as the individual blade members 34 mounted upon the shaft 26.

A further mixing auger conveyor means, generally designated as 36, is mounted generally vertically within the mixing tank, in the central portion thereof and offset to one side of the longitudinal axis thereof, and has its lower end disposed adjacent to the first auger conveyor means and extends upwardly therefrom to the top of the mixing tank MT, adjacent the top wall portion 22. Such further mixing auger conveyor means 36 comprises a generally vertical rotatable shaft 38 rotatably mounted at its top end within suitable bearing means 40 in the top wall portion 22, and at its lower end is drivingly connected by bevel gears 42, 44, the latter of which is secured to a drive shaft 46 which is in turn drivingly connected to the engine E by suitable coupling means, not shown.

As a primary feature of the present invention, it should be noted that the vertical auger conveyor means 38 includes spiral flights of blades 48 which increase in diameter from the bottom of the mixing tank to the top thereof, thus forming an expanding auger conveyor. It has been found that the use of such expanding blades in this arrangement considerably improves the mixing characteristics of the mixing auger conveyors working together as a unit.

A third generally horizontal rotatable auger conveyor means is provided on the opposite side of the vertical auger conveyor means 38 from the horizontal conveyors 26, 28 and 30, 32, and preferably somewhat above the level thereof This third horizontal auger conveyor means is virtually identical in structure to the first and second horizontal conveyors, and includes a longitudinal shaft 30' and a plurality of spiral flights of blades 32' mounted thereon. These blades 32' are preferably inclined in a direction so as to effect material flow in the same direction as the blades 32 of the second horizontal auger conveyor, i.e., from the vicinity of the vertical auger conveyor 38 outwardly towards the opposite ends of the tank.

If desired, a further horizontal agitating means 50 may be provided above the first, second and third auger conveyors and passing in close proximity to the vertical auger conveyor means 36. Such further horizontal agitating means 50 may comprise a rotatable shaft 52 to which are secured a plurality of agitating blade members 54 which are secured to the shaft 52 at axially spaced locations, extending generally radially therefrom, and which are preferably circumferentially staggered with respect to each other to provide a more effective agitating function. As shown in FIG. 6, such agitating blade members 54 may be arcuately curved with respect to the radial direction of the conveyor, and thus provide essentially a flailing action upon the fluent material, to further mix the same. I

Suitable drive means are provided for effecting rotation of the first, second, and third auger conveyor shafts 26, 30, 30 and, if provided, the further horizontal agitator shaft 52, such means providing respective sprocket pulleys 56, 58, 60 respectively secured to the ends of the shafts 26, 30, 30', 52, and which are drivingly connected by endless chain means 62, 64 entrained about such sprocket pulleys. One of the shafts 26, 30, 30', 52 may, therefore, be driven from the engine E by suitable drive connection means, not shown, the remaindergof the shafts being driven by the endless sprocket chains 62 and 64. Thus, itwill be seen that the first, second, and third auger conveyor means, the vertical auger conveyor means 36, and the further horizontal agitating means 50 will all be rotated simultaneously, the mutual interaction of these on the fluent material thus providing a very effective agitating and mixing action upon the fluent material. I

To unload the mixed fluent material from the mixing tank MT,.following a sufficient period of mixing, there isprovided an outlet fixture 66 in the rounded lower portion 24, adjacent the rear end thereof and communicating with the interior of the tank, and which in turn communicatesiwith an air unloading means 68 (FIG. 1 which serves to empty the material from the mixing tank, in metered amounts, under the influence of fluid pressure. The, air unloading means 68 comprises essentially an'air blower means including means for entraining the grain or other fluent material within the air flow to thereby unload the device. Suitable conduit means, not shown, may be included where it is desired to direct the flow of air and entrained fluent material to the remote point of ultimate use.

One or more suitable access openings may be provided in the top wall portion 22 of the mixing tank MT, to provide access to the interior of the mixing tank as for cleaning or other maintenance. Such access hatches, during operation or transporting of the device, may be closed by any suitable closure means 70, such as conventional hatch closures.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the structure of the feeding conveyor FT will be shown in somewhat greater detail. As noted, the feeding conveyor is pivotally mounted about a transverse horizontal axis, 'as shown in FIG. 1, for vertical pivotal movement. Further, referring to FIG. 3, this assembly is also pivotable about a vertical axis so as to be swingable horizontally away from and towards the vehicle frame. In this manner, the forward end of the feeding conveyor may be readily swung to a variety of positions, in order to more efficiently make use of various supply containers. or other sources for the fluent material. Still further, the feeding conveyor is extendible and retractable in its longitudinal direction, and to this purpose includes a first or rearward trough portion 72 secured to the feed hood FH, and a second or forward trough section 74 telescopically slidable with respect to the first trough section 72. Each of these trough sections 72 and 74 may advantageously comprise a generally U-shaped channel means for the feeding conveyor, to prevent overflow of the fluent material to either side.

A rearwardly disposed pulley 76 is disposed at the rearward end of the feeding conveyor means FT, and there is further provided a pair of forward pulleys 78, which are respectively rotatably mounted on the stationary trough section 72 and the telescoping section 74. There is also provided a further pulley 82 spaced rearwardly from the pulleys 78 and 80, such further pulley 82 being mounted so as to be shiftable in the longitudinal direction of the feeding conveyor means. An endless belt means 84 is entrained about the pulley 76 at its rearward end and the pair of pulleys 78 and 80 at its forward end, in such a manner that the portion of the endless belt means 84 between the pulleys 78 and 80 is looped rearwardly about the further pulley 82, thus forming essentially an adjustable supply loop. The endless belt means 84 may advantageously comprise an endless rubber belt, and may, if desired, have cleats or similar projections on theexterior surface thereof to more efficiently convey the fluent material. Suitable means, not shown, are provided for effecting extension or retraction of the telescoping trough section 74, to thereby-correspondingly increase or decrease the effective operating length of the feeding conveyor means F1". When the telescoping trough section is extended to the position shown. in dotted lines in FIG. 2, the upper pulley 80 rotatably secured thereto will likewisebe moved forward, and the further pulley 82 will therefore be accordingly drawn forward to draw the adjustable supply loop of the endless belt means 84 outwardly. The feeding conveyor means FT can, accordingly, be adjusted both in its pivotable position, andin its effective length, to thereby position the forward end of such feeding conveyormeans at a wide variety of locations, to thereby receive the fluent material from various types of supply sources thereof.

As has been previously mentioned, the apparatus according to the present invention preferably includes means for adding a liquid component to the fluent material in the mixing tank MT in the form of molasses and liquid protein, respectively, supplied from supply tanks 10 and 12. The mixing tank MT includes a pair of fluid inlet means 86 communicating with the interior thereof through end wall 14, one such fluid means 86 for each of the liquid components desired to be added, only one of such fluid inlet means being illustrated in FIG. suitable fluid conduit means 88, only a small portion thereof being shown, are provided connecting each of the fluid supply tanks and 12 to their respective fluid inlet means 86. While, in some cases, it may be desirable to merely feed such liquid components to the mixing tank by gravity flow and/or by pressurizing the respective supply tank, preferably there are provided pump means disposed in the respective conduit lines between the supply tanks and the fluid inlet means to transfer such liquid components to the mixing tank when desired, such pump means preferably being metering tanks to feed specific doses or quantities of the liquid components into the mixing tank to be added to the known quantity of the fluent material therein. As has been previously noted, one of the liquid components which it may be desirable to add to the fluent material is molasses, carried within the supply tank 10, and it is desirable to include means to allow ready and efficient pumping of the molasses even during cold weather, when the molasses would normally become highly viscous and resistant to such pumping. To this end, an extremely simple arrangement which is desirable is to utilize the heat of the vehicle engine, particularly the engine water system, to heat the supply tank 10 for the molasses and thus reduce the viscosity thereof for easier transfer through the fluid conduit means. Specifically, suitable hose means, not illustrated, may be provided for conducting a portion of the hot water from the vehicle engine in a manner so as to thereby transfer a portion of the heat thereof to the supply tank 10 and thus to the molasses, to thereby render the molasses less viscous and more susceptible to flow. It is also contemplated that suitable valving means may be provided for diverting such hot water from such hose means for use in warmweather operations, when heating of the molasses would not be necessary and, in fact, might prove undesirable.

In operation, the vehicle may be driven forwardly to the general area of any desired point of use, and the feeding conveyor means FT pivoted and extended, as necessary, to place the forward, receiving end thereof in receiving relationship with a suitable supply source of the fluent material. The endless beltconveyor 84, driven by any suitable means, feeds the fluent material rearwardly along the feeding conveyor means FT, through the feed hood unit FH to the hammer mill unit HM, which further comminutes the fluent material and presents it to the mixing unit in a form for easy mixing. The first auger conveyor 26, 28 transfers the thus comminuted material from the bottom of the hammer mill HM, through the feeding conduit PC, into the mixing tank, such first auger conveyor means 26, 28 coacting with the oppositely directed and adjacent second auger conveyor means 30, 32 and the third auger conveyor means 30', 32" to create a partial mixing of the fluent material and create a net material flow towards the longitudinal central portion of the mixing tank MT, where the material is entrained by the vertical expanding auger 36, which serves to further agitate and mix the fluent material. During this period, the liquid molasses from the supply tank 10, and/or the liquid protein from supply tank 12, may be introduced through the fluid conduit means 88 and fluid inlet means 86 to be added to the fluent material while it is being mixed, to provide a finished mixed product of a predetermined nutritional character. Following completion of the mixing operation, the thus mixed grain or grainadditive mixture is unloaded through the outlet fixture 66 and the air unloader 68, where it may be either fed through a conduit and thus unloaded to any suitable point of use, or may be bagged directly from the air unloader 68.

By locating the feeding conveyor means FT in the forward portion of the mobile vehicle frame F, and particularly by locating the discharge end of such feeding conveyor means adjacent the forward end of the vehicle frame, it becomes a simple operation to present such feeding conveyor means to the supply source of material merely by driving the vehicle forwardly, the operator having a clear view during such entire operation. This represents a marked contrast to prior devices of this type, wherein the conveyor has been located at the rearward portion of the vehicle and has had its discharge end located remotely from the driver, requiring the driver to perform the frequently dangerous operation of backing the vehicle, with resultant poor vision, to present the feeding conveyor to the source of supply. Further, the present location of the feeding conveyor means also eliminates any rear overhang of such conveyor, thereby reducing or eliminating the danger of rear-end collision.

Through the provision of a mixing apparatus for fluent materials, as described above, it is believed that all of the objects set forth at the outset to the specification have been successfully fulfilled. Accordingly, what is claimed is:

1. Mixing apparatus for fluent solid material such as livestock feeds, comprising a mixing tank; at least two elongated rotatable auger conveyor means disposed within said mixing tank adjacent the bottom thereof, said conveyor means being disposed generally horizontally, adjacent to and generally parallel to each other, a further elongated rotatable auger conveyor means disposed within said mixing tank and extending vertically therein, said further conveyor means having its lower end disposed adjacent to, and intermediate the ends of, said first-mentioned conveyor means and having spiral flights of blades increasing in diameter from the bottom to the top thereof; one of said firstmentioned conveyor means having spiral flights of blades on opposite sides of said lower end of said further conveyor means adapted to feed material to be mixed away from said further conveyor means, and another of said first-mentioned conveyor means being positioned below said one conveyor means and having spiral flights of blades on opposite sides of said lower end of said further conveyor means adapted to feed material to be mixed toward said further conveyor means, and means for effecting rotation of said firstmentioned and said further conveyor means.

2. Mixing apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said first-mentioned conveyor means includes three generally horizontal conveyors, two of which have spiral flights of blades adapted to feed material to be mixed away from said further conveyor means and one of which has spiral flights of blades adapted to feed material to be mixed toward said further conveyor means.

3. Mixing apparatus as defined in claim 2, further comprising a self-propelled mobile frame, said mixing tank being mounted on said mobile frame.

4. Mixing apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said mixing tank is mounted on the rear portion of said mobile frame, further comprising elongated feeding conveyor means mounted on the forward portion of said mobile frame and adapted to feed fluent materials to said mixing tank, said feeding conveyor means having an inlet and adjacent the forward end of said mobile frame and a discharge end adjacent said mixing tank.

5. Mixing apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein said feeding conveyor means comprises an extendible belt conveyor, said belt conveyor further being pivotally mounted at its discharge end to said mobile frame for both horizontal and vertical pivotal movement.

6. Mixing apparatus as defined in claim 4, further comprising a hammer mill disposed on said mobile frame between said discharge end of said feeding conveyor means and said mixing tank, said hammer mill receiving the fluent material from said feeding conveyor means, comminuting the fluent material and feeding the material into said mixing hopper.

7 Mixing apparatus as defined in claim 2, further comprising supply means for introducing a liquid component into said mixing tank for mixing with the fluent material.

8. Mixing apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said supply means comprises atleast one supply tank for the liquid component exterior of said mixing tank, fluid inlet means on said mixing tank communicating with the interior thereof, and fluid conduit means connecting said supply tank to said fluid inlet means.

9. Mixing apparatus as defined in claim 8, further comprising pump means disposed in said fluid conduit means between said supply tank and said fluid inlet means to pump the liquid component from said supply tank to said mixing tank.

10. Mixing apparatus as defined in claim 8, further 10 comprising means for heating said supply tank.

11. Mixing apparatus as defined in claim 10, further comprising a self-propelled mobile frame including internal-combustion drive means .having a heating and cooling water system, said mixing tank and said supply means being mounted on said mobile frame, said means for heating said supply tank comprising hose means for conducting at least a portion of the heated water from the internal-combustion drive means into said supply tank, to thereby heat said supply tank.

12. Mixing apparatus for fluent materials such as livestock feed, comprising an elongated self-propelled mobile vehicle frame having a forward end and a rearward end; processing means including mixing means mounted on said vehicle frame rearwardly of said forward end; an elongated feeding conveyor means mounted on the vehicle frame and extending generally along one side thereof, said conveyor means having a receiving end extending to said forward end of said mobile vehicle frame for receiving unprocessed feedstuffs from a source of same, and a discharge end spaced rearwardly of said receiving end for delivering said unprocessed feedstuffs to said processing means.

13. Mixing apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein said conveyor means comprises an endless extendible belt conveyor, and further comprising means for extending and retracting said belt conveyor in its longitudinal direction.

14. Mixing apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein said last-named means comprises an upper and a lower pulley, said belt conveyor passing around said upper and lower pulleys at its forward end, and a further pulley spaced rearwardly from said upper and lower pulleys, a portion of said belt conveyor between said upper and lower pulleys being looped rearwardly about said further pulley to form an adjustable supply loop, and said further pulley and one of said upper and lower pulleys being shiftable in the longitudinal direction of said belt conveyor, to thereby increase or decrease the effective working length of said belt con- 

